New African Fashion Conquers NYC

The New York launch of Helen Jennings’ debut coffee table book New African Fashion on December 1, 2011 was a huge success.

It was standing room only at the New York Public Library on Wednesday 30 November for a talk about the book. Jennings was joined by Mimi Plange, Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim (Mataano) and Enyinne Owunwanne (Heritage1960) for two hours of good conversation.

The following evening, private members club Parlor reached capacity for the book party co-hosted by Jennings, Heritage1960, Mataano and The Afropolitan Society. Music came courtesy of Cocody Productions' DJake (Jake Bright) and Zakee. Attendees included models Kinée Diouf, Oluchi Onweagba and Ger Duany, BET presenter Lola Ogunnaike, designer LaQuan Smith and The Fader’s Mobolaji Dawodu. Read what the New York Times had to say about the book talk here. 

Helen Jennings, author of the book and editor of ARISE, said: “Over the past few weeks I’ve done launches for New African Fashion in Johannesburg, Lagos and London but New York has blown me away. I’m delighted by how well the book has been received. Thank you to everyone who attended the events, bought the book and shared the love.”

Notes to editors:

New African Fashion gives a brief history of African fashion, beauty and style, follows its influence on international trends and profiles today’s best African designers, models and street style photography.

The book has garnered press coverage around the world including British Vogue and Vogue.com, Grazia, CNN, Dutch L’Officiel, South African Marie Claire, Time Out, Essence, Paper, AnOther magazine, BBC and Dazed and Confused, which wrote: “Going beyond clichés; Jennings puts the continent’s aesthetic in a new context. Represent.”

It’s out now published by Prestel, priced $35

For more information visit http://www.newafricanfashion.com